Coffin



UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' FRANCIS GOFF, OF ENGLEVOOD, ILLINOIS.

-- .COFFIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,963, dated September 14, 1886.

Application filed December 17, 1885. Serial No. 186,009. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS O. GoFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Englewood, in the county of Cook and State of Illi nois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Air-Tight Coffin or Casket Linings, which is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being'had to the from its position. Fig. 3is a transverse seetional View taken at the line yy of Fig. 2, showing the lid in position on the coffin. Fig. etis a vertical sectional view showing a portion of one end of the eoifin; and Fig. 5 is a plan View of a portion of the under side of the lid with the flexible lining folded back, disclosing the method of attaching the lining to the lid.

Like letters refer to like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

My invention relates to coffin or casket linings, its object being to furnish an air-tight 'expansible lining.

In the manufacture of coffins and caskets it is customary to make the articles in a series of different sizes, so called, the terms used to designate each size being well known in the trade. The coffins of a given size, when constructed by different makers, vary somewhat in their dimensions, so that each special make of eoffin must have a special make of lining to fit it, if the lining be constructed, as is ordinarily the case, of sheet metal or some other similar non-expansible material.

The purpose of my invention is to construct a lining which, while it shall be air-tight, as is the case with the ordinary sheet-metal lining, will at the same time be expansible within certain limits, so as to fit all the different makes of coifins or caskets of a given size.

I will now-proceed to describe a construction in which I have practically carried out my invention in one form, and will then particularly point out in the claims those features which I deem to be new and desire to protect by Let- O is the lining of the body of the coffin, made of rubber cloth or other impermeable fabric, and constructed to conform to the interior of the body of the coffin. The edge of this rubber lining is turned over the upperedge of the body of the coffin and secured thereto by any suitable fastening.

D is a rubber molding or strip having a recess, E, at its upper side extending its entire length.

F is a rubber strip or molding attached to the under side of the coffin-lid, and having a head or projection, G, extending its entire length, and adapted to closely fit into the recess E when the lid is placed in position on the coffin. This construction is for the purpose of making the joint air-tight. The strips D and F may be seen red to the out-turned edges of the lining O and to the lining of the lid by means of rubber cement, and the recess E in the former may be also filled with this cement, so that when the projection G 011 the latter is inserted therein it will form a perfectly airtight joint.

H is a piece of rubber adapted to fit-the under side of the coffin-lid, and it is secured in place by tabs I, that are cemented or glued to the side of the rubber H and tacked to thelid B, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The edge of the flexible rubber H is turned back, as shown in Fig. 5, for thepurpose of tacking these-tabs I to the lid, and then the edge is turned over the tabs and secured beneath the rubber strip F, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

J is a face-glass that is securedin the rubber H in any well-known manner. of securing glass in rubber cloth by an air-tight joint. This face-glass is held by the rubber cloth H beneath the usual opening in the lid of the coffin. K are flexible strips of cloth or any other suitable material cemented, glued, or otherwise secured to the inside of the rubber lining O, and L are strips of wood or other suitable material placed on the inside of the lining O, for the purpose of tacking to them the usual material with which the inside of coffins are upholstered each lining may not necessarily be made fora particular make of collin.

lhe strips or moldings D and F are made with a joint, as shown at N, and these joints are left, in order that when the lining is fitted to the collin in which it is to be used one end of the strip or molding F can be cut off to the proper length, and then be fastened to the edge of the coflin, leaving no air-space at the joint, as would be the case if provision were not made For this purpose.

It will be observed that I make an expansible lining for the coffin, which lining may be adapted to coflins of different dimensions, and I provide all of the joints with means which prevent the passage of air, and I also furnish the interior of this coflin-lining with means for securing thereto the usual inside furnishings of the collin without piercing the lining, and I also secure this lining to the lid of the eoiiin in a firm manner without piercing the rubber lining, so as to hold the face-glass in position, and have no place through which air can pass when the lid is placed in position on the collin.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself strictly to the precise construction shown -in the drawings and particularly described in the specification. Various modifications may be employed without departing from the principle oi my invention. For instance, although I have shown means applied to the inner side of the lining for attaching thereto the upholstering material, still it is obvious that this upholstery may be applied directly to the interior of the casket or coffin, the lining conforming to its general outline, and having the finish of satin or the like ap plied to its interior to conceal the same.

Having described the construction and operation of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described coi'lin-lining constructed of an impermeable flexible fabric provided with elastic sections,substantiall y as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combination, withthe eollin or casket body and lid, ofthe body-lining, the lid-lining, and the rubber strips D and F, the former provided with a recess and the latter with a bead to fit within the recess, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, with the lining (J, of the strips L and K, for securing the furnishings in the inside of the collin without piercing the lining, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

F tANGlS C. GOFF'. Wi tnesses:

LEONARD \VA'rsoN, IRVINE MILLER. 

